Major fire at asbestos mill in Rochdale - residents told to stay indoors and keep windows closed

15 Feb 2013 06:42

The blaze at the former Turner and Newall site on Rooley Moor Road, Spotland, broke out shortly before 3am today.

The fire was starting to come under control at around 9am on Friday. It started at 3am.

Katie Storey

Residents were told to stay indoors while around 50 fire fighters battled a fire at a old asbestos factory in Rochdale.

The blaze at the former Turner and Newall site on Rooley Moor Road, Spotland, broke out shortly before 3am today.

It has now largely been brought under control, according to a fire service spokesman.

People living nearby were earlier advised by Greater Manchester fire service to keep their doors and windows closed and not to make any unnecessary journeys.

But fire fighters were beginning to bring the blaze under control by around 8.30am. Only residents in the immediate vicinity of the fire - to the rear of Fallowfield Drive - must now stay indoors.

Other residents are now free to go about their business as normal.

At least six fire engines are at the scene as the fire service try to bring the fire - at a long-closed derelict factory - under control.

Rooley Moor Road is still closed in both directions between the Churchill Street junction and the Elmpark Way junction. A diversion is in place.

Paul Etches from GMFRS said: "We're working hard to resolve this as quickly as possible and we asked residents living close to the site can help us protect them by keeping doors and windows closed.

"The fire is now under control and we've been working with the local authority and health agencies and the advice remains the same but is limited only to those in the immediate vicinity of Fallowfield Drive.

"There should be minimal disruption to residents schools and businesses but crews will remain on the scene throughout the day
damping down."

The old Newall and Turner site - formerly one of the largest asbestos factories in the world - is one of the most controversial derelict sites in Greater Manchester.

In 2011, Rochdale Council blocked plans to bulldoze the site and build hundreds of homes amid safety fears.

Source: http://feeds.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/~r/menews/news/~3/IUBLaboRXYI/major-fire-asbestos-mill-rochdale-1320154

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